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Is there a place for hands-free technology in a hand-on trade?
One of the biggest evolutionary leaps forward was the development of opposable thumbs to use tools. Millions of years ago, humans began to manipulate rocks or sticks to perform tasks and ensure survival. Today, we don't even need our hands.
The "hands-free movement" has been sweeping the nation, allowing us to speak on the phone while driving or walking around without pressing any buttons. Most mobile phones include Bluetooth technology that allows for hands-free calling systems in cars, headphones, or headsets. And according to market research firm AB I Research, nearly two billion smartphones will ship globally in 2018, further cementing the belief that these mobile devices are not just frivolous toys, they're a significant part of our lives.
Chances are, you've been in a situation where a stranger begins talking and you respond thinking that he's addressing you. How could he not? He's alone and he isn't holding a cell phone. Then he turns and you see the small black or silver device clipped to his ear. We're living in a hands-free world.
Let's connect everything
More specifically, just what exactly is Bluetooth? A global wireless technology standard, Bluetooth allows for the exchange of data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices and building personal area networks (PANs). It uses short-wavelength UHF radio waves in the ISM band from 2.4 to 2.485 GHz. Compatible devices include personal computers, tablets, gaming consoles, and mobile phones, typically the most popular option for the service.
Bluetooth has a limited range for mobile phones, usually around 10 meters (32.8 ft.), but it can reach a "Class 1" range of up to 100 meters (in most cases 20-30 meters) with laptops.
The group of engineers from Ericsson, a Swedish communications technology provider, who created this wireless technology in 1994 initially conceived it as an alternative to the tangled mess and distance restrictions of RS-232 data cables. In 1998, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Nokia, and Toshiba formed the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). No single company owns the technology, but these SIG member companies work together to further Bluetooth technology as a means to connect consumer devices.
The name "Bluetooth" may sound sleek and snazzy, but its...